Child homicide cases rise in NWF (AUDIO, VIDEO)

Sunday

Child homicide cases in Northwest Florida, according to 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Eddins, are at one of its all-time highs.

Adelynn Merrell stood in the living room of her aunt's Kansas home in August, singing and dancing to "Let it go" from Disney's Frozen.

For Tynisha Merrell, it was just another day babysitting her glitzy, princess-loving niece. Never did she imagine it would be her last memory of the little girl, the last time she would see little Adelynn alive.

"Adelynn loved to make people laugh," Merrell said. "Her cute, squeaky voice was hard not to love, her giggle was just the same. She loved to play tag and chase around her brothers. She was very silly."

On Nov. 9, the 3-year-old's body was found dumped in the woods off Palmetto Avenue near Crestview.

Those allegedly responsible for her death — Adelynn's mother, Destinee Merrell, and her boyfriend, Cory Hagwell — now help make up the 13 individuals currently awaiting trial for the deaths of Northwest Florida children.

Child homicide cases in Northwest Florida, according to 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Eddins, are at one of its all-time highs.

"I've been in office for 13 years and normally we would have one or two cases pending involving the homicide of a child," Eddins said Wednesday. "We have seen a significant increase in the number of child deaths as a result of a homicide."

Eddins said in addition to the 13 cases, the State Attorney's Office has tried at least four other child homicides in the past year.

Although the reason for the significant increase remains uncertain, Eddins believes a greater awareness of child abuse, in addition to more effective reporting, are contributing factors.

"The Department of Children and Families now has an abuse hotline, and in every county we also have child advocacy centers," Eddins said. "I believe those are two reasons that there are more cases, because they’re being reported now."

Tragic headlines

Northwest Florida has become a hot bed for horrific child homicide cases receiving national attention in recent years.

In October, Veronica Green Posey was charged with first-degree murder of 9-year-old Dericka Lindsay, who died after Posey allegedly sat on top of her as punishment.

In 2015, Alonso Castillo was charged with first-degree murder after slamming his 6-month-old to the ground using a professional wrestler's signature move.

A year before, Tonisha Lache Crowell was charged with first-degree premeditated murder after her newborn was found outside in a garbage bag.

On Nov. 9, 2016, exactly one year to the day before Adelynn's death, 5-month-old Dominick Johnson died of multiple blunt impact injuries to the head and severe retinal hemorrhaging in both eyes. Dominick's father, Jared Leevan Johnson, was later charged with murdering his son.

"When I saw the news report of the little Crestview girl, I thought it was crazy, it blew my mind," said Dominick's mother, Kellie Young, of the poignant anniversary.

As Young prepares to face Johnson's trial in January, she holds tight to the sweet memories of her son. At the time of his death, Dominick was just learning how to crawl and eat solid foods. His favorite fruits were blueberries and bananas.

"People think this can't happen to you," Young said. "This is something I literally grew up watching as a child, Nancy Grace and stuff like that. For it to happen to me and be so close to home, it's very crazy.

"Don't have a child with just anyone, because things can go bad so fast."

'It's always intentional'

Although the circumstances leading to these homicides are unique, some factors link them together. Specifically, according to Eddins, in cases of shaken baby syndrome, which makes up a large percentage of child homicides.

Florida Department of Health-Okaloosa County Director Karen Chapman said poor parenting skills, substance abuse, low income and low education levels are usually prevalent in such cases.

"Shaken baby syndrome is always intentional," Chapman said. "You cannot accidentally do this to a baby. It's a severe form of child abuse. It's violent, inflicted trauma on an infant.

"Perpetrators of this type of abuse are typically male. Sometimes it's the mother's boyfriend or the child's father."

Eddins said there are some ways the community can help prevent child homicide cases. He said if anyone even suspects child abuse, it should be reported to the DCF hotline or local law enforcement.

"The only thing they can do is what neighbors did in this case of Hagwell (Adelynn's death)," Eddins said. "The neighbors saw something that was not normal, inappropriate. Law enforcement responded and turned it over to be reviewed by DCF. If you see something, say something."

Mandatory life sentence

If the 13 suspects in the current homicide cases are convicted of first-degree murder, Eddins said Florida allows only two sentences — the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"What I want the public to know is if they're convicted of first-degree murder, they can't get out," he said. "It's a mandatory life sentence."

For Merrell, Young and many other family members of children killed in Northwest Florida, all they want to know is "why?"

"There are parts of me where I want to be angry and yell and scream at them," Merrell said. "I want to just ask her why she didn't reach out to us.

"Especially in this situation, I hope that heaven is real, because Adelynn deserves to be in a happy place."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.